There's lots to like about Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time. A direct sequel to Naughty Dog's classic trilogy, this latest platformer takes the marsupial and his pals on a time-twisting adventure as they put a stop to the antics of Neo Cortex and N. Tropy. It debuted on PlayStation 4 last year, and while it's perfectly serviceable on the older hardware, the PS5 upgrade really lets the game shine.
Running on the new console, It's About Time just looks excellent. The cartoonish art style, with its bright colours, clean lines, and expressive animation, is absolutely gorgeous at 4K resolution. While it isn't using HDR (as far as we know), it still really sings on a 4K display. What's more, the game is locked at 60 frames-per-second on PS5, running buttery smooth regardless of how chaotic things get.
It also makes good use of Activity Cards, letting you hop to the latest time trial, or between worlds. Game Help is also employed, providing video walkthroughs of levels. It's good to see third party games taking full advantage of features like this. Elsewhere, the DualSense's haptic feedback isn't utilised to its fullest, but the adaptive triggers give certain moves an added layer of tactility — feeling the trigger pull on Cortex's ray gun, for instance. It's not the best implementation, but it's better than the comparably flat feeling of a DualShock 4.
We must also mention the huge difference PS5 makes to load times. On PS4, the game's loading was definitely on the long side, especially if you were trying to ace each stage. With PS5, loading screens are dramatically reduced, which makes restarts far more palatable. It's a solid upgrade to a great game, then — and free if you own the older version. If you're looking for a more detailed analysis of the game itself, check out our Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time PS4 review.
Comments 28
Missed it in the half price PSN sale, will buy when half price again, thanks for the update 👍🏻
After completing the game, I started the perfect relics.
I’m was about 33.3% through a perfect relic run, and had a mental breakdown during the polar bear levels.
I’m really hoping this gives me a new lease of life, so I can push through and grab the platinum.
I'm disappointed about the lacking Dualsense implementation, I was really hoping for Astro level quality here with this sort of game. It would really have elevated it above the parallel Xbox Series release.
Yakuza: LaD is also not HDR....you'd think such things would be standard today, but not always, apparently.
That's the one and only time that I like that XSX switches in and out of HDR as needed. PS5's always HDR-enabled output makes everything smooth, but it also hides games that aren't HDR by making it seem as though it is.
This game made me swear so much 🤣
A game I fully intended on platinumming upon initial release, but the more I progressed through the game, the more I realized that probably wasn't going to happen LOL
Awesome. I loved the Trilogy as part of PS+ collection, even though it was so frustrating at times.
I hope it will be one of the monthly PS+ games soon (same as Oddworld: Soulstorm next month)
@fR_eeBritney - Agreed, haven't sworn this much since first playthrough of Bloodborne & Cuphead, and the multitude of times I flew into full-on rage mode whenever I heard 'All you had to do, was follow the damn train CJ!" in GTA San Andreas.
Think i broke 2 remotes playing this. Great game nice to see the upgrade.
I am soooooo glad I have a back-log of games now Will play this next on my PS5 Just finished RDR2 and might play Star Wars Squadrons(just to play something different really now and then) next and then on to Crash 4
@Max2574 I’m going to pick this game up soon and have been hearing a lot about the difficulty. Is just completing the game super difficult or is it mainly just 100%ing it? I do like a good challenge but I’ve heard a few people say it’s overwhelmingly difficult at times.
Shorter load times coupled with some hit detection fixes is really making me want to jump back in and try for 106% completion.
@DeathByLasagna The end levels you will die a bunch but overall its easier than Insane trilogy. Unless you have the most incredible patience trying to get you the plat will drive you insane. PS5 load times will help the pain if you have it. But you will love it mate put in over 70 hours on it and enjoyed the challenge.
I'll take buttery smooth any day of the week.
@TheLightSpirit I agree mostly if it wasn't for that damm bridge lol. Could never judge the bounce lol. Crash 4 starts easy but ramps up towards the end. I hope it sold well enough for more Crash games in future.
So I just pop the PS4 disc in the PS5 and upgrade right from the game page? I haven't tried backwards compatibility with a game that has a next-gen update yet.
@Deadlyblack Agreed. Trying to get every box on the levels where you ride an animal were a nightmare because of how specific you had to be. It made perfect runs impossible, no clue how some people managed it, I always ended up with like 50 deaths on those levels.
@TheLightSpirit Yh mate can definitely relate to that lol.
does it really matter to go for the 106% ? what's the extra reward for that?
@Spoonman-2
Answering to myself is on sale in the UK today @ £38.99
Would be good if I could actually redeem the free upgrade, however I can't because it conflicts with some "Tracker" I've already purchased. No apparent word from Sony, Toys for Bob or Activision.
@SlyF0X90 Same, seems pretty widespread issue at the moment. Sony's upgrade implementation is atrocious, again.
@Gamer83 if it's the same as Fifa 21 & Madden 21 then yes. Just look out for which version you play though, as Fifa & Madden install both the PS4 & 5 versions of the game weirdly (but you can just delete the PS4 ones). And I think I had to put the disc's in the machine then go to the Store and download the free upgrades.
I find it bizarre the PS5 version is 20gb and the PS4 version is 45gb?
Only bought the game digitally this morning, so no issue downloading both versions if I please
@popey1980
Thanks.
.... this is getting ridiculous. How do we upgrade to (or download) the PS5 digital version. I've been trying all day. Nothing has changed. PS5 version "Unavailable" if I visit PS Store on my PC and I get some weird message about a conflict of purchases regarding Crash 4 "tracker" if I try on my PS5???
@Max2574 Thanks for the input
Glad to hear the main game gets a bit difficult but most of the infuriating parts come from 100%ing it. These kind of games I like to play through normally first and I go back and 100% based on my enjoyment. Will definitely pick it up!
Glad the game still performs well on PS5, but shame to hear the haptic feedback isn't used much!
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